Playbooks

Curls

Shotgun·Flex Y Off Wk·11

Curl Pass Play

Play diagram for Curls from Shotgun Flex Y Off Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetFlex Y Off Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

Broncos OffenseOffense Shotgun Mix NFL Live Broncos OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Curls out of Shotgun Flex Y Off Wk gives you a five man route concept built around curl breaks on the backside and an outlet check-down underneath. The backside X runs a vertical curl at roughly ten to twelve yards while the slot runs a shorter in-cut curl, and the TE releases to the flat before working upfield on an angle route. On the play side the lone WR runs a deep go route to hold the corner and safety, while the HB releases from the backfield on a shallow drag underneath everything for a built-in checkdown. This is a zone beater at its core, designed to sit defenders down in the soft spots between linebacker and safety zones, with the primary read progression starting at the backside curl, working to the underneath drag, and using the deep go as a clear-out.

Defensive Reads

Read the linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard into the throwing lanes toward the curls, the defense is playing zone and you should look to the drag or hot route away from the crowd. Watch for a user controlled defender flashing down into the shallow drag area, since that lurk threat is the main way defenses take away this concept, in which case reset to the backside curl. Check corner alignment pre-snap, a corner playing off coverage at seven or more yards signals zone drops and tells you the curl route will have room to sit down in front of him. Against Cover 3, the deep go route on the play side should occupy the corner and deep safety, opening a window for the underneath curl and TE angle route combo. Blitz packages with man coverage behind them are the biggest threat to this concept since the HB drag becomes the QB's only quick answer, so recognize extra rushers pre-snap and be ready to check down immediately.

Usage Tips

Use this on second and medium to long distance situations where zone coverage is likely, since curls sit right in the throwing lanes that zone defenses leave open. Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep, expect Cover 2 or Cover 4 zone drops and target the backside curl before the corner can sink under it. If the defense shows Cover 3 with a single high safety, look to the curl and the TE angle route since the underneath zone defenders will have to choose between them. Hot route the HB into a quicker flat release if you see man coverage or blitz pressure, since the drag becomes an easy checkdown against blitzing linebackers. Pair this play with Double Slants or RPO Peek Slant from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick zone beaters and man beating slant combos, forcing linebackers to widen or cheat and opening up the curl windows even more.